St. Johns, Michigan is a small community of just under 8,000 people. A half-billion dollar dairy processing plant is being built here by Glanbia, an Irish nutrition group with operations in 32 countries. The project is a joint venture between Glanbia and their partners Dairy Farmers of America, Select Milk Producers and Proliant Dairy Ingredients.

Expected to open in November 2020, the “Midwest Cheese” plant will employ 290 people and process 8 million pounds of milk every day.

For the company perspective, we interview Glanbia’s senior vice president John Dardis. And for a description of the dozen-plus, state and local entities that were involved in this complex project, we interview  Keith Lambert, Vice President of Business Attraction of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP).